Archives for November 2017

New Delhi: The Central government plans to withdraw its ban on sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets, a senior official from the Ministry of Environment and Forests told The Indian Express.

The ministry, in its May 23 notification, has sought feedback on changes made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017.

The official told the national daily that they have sent a file to the Ministry of Law stating that the ministry is withdrawing the notification due to several issues and will be revising it.

The official, however, said that the time-frame for the process has not yet been decided.

After the notification in May, the BJP-led NDA government faced a heavy lash out by the Opposition and the cattle traders for attempting to impose the nationwide ban on ideological grounds.

The ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter, implemented on May 23, not only affected the small traders in the market but also gave rise to vigilantism which took lives of many during the past few months.

Farmers, too, opposed the move to restrict trade in markets only to animals meant for agricultural use, saying they cannot directly access slaughterhouses.

Farmers normally bring their redundant animals to livestock markets from where traders purchase and transport the cattle to abattoirs.

For the first time in September, Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan indicated that the Centre may lift the ban. He said the rules were a “regulatory regime” for preventing cruelty to animals and the government “did not intend to directly or indirectly affect slaughterhouses or harm farmers” or “influence the food habits of people”.

After this, the ministry asked all the states to send their opinion on the notification that prohibited the sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets.

The Ministry had sent two sets of letters to states – the first was soon after the Supreme Court stayed the ban – reminding them to respond. It had also attached a copy of the notification and said that a new draft would be framed based on feedback. The Ministry also held consultations with animal rights activists and traders on the issue.

The government’s decision in May had sparked outrage, notably from states such as Kerala, West Bengal and Meghalaya on the grounds that it related to an issue under their jurisdiction.

In May-end, the Madras High Court granted an interim stay on the implementation of the rules, specifically Rule 22(b)(iii) that required a person bringing cattle for sale to the market to furnish a written declaration that it would not be sold for slaughter.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has rejected the US call to cut ties with North Korea after Pyongyang launched ballistic missiles on Wednesday.

“We perceived this negatively,” Lavrov told journalists in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, commenting on Washington’s statement on the need to cut ties with North Korea.

US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, on Wednesday called on all countries to sever relations with Pyongyang, including cutting trade links and expelling North Korean workers.

The Trump administration vowed to slap additional sanctions on North Korea after the reclusive country test-launched its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) yet, with a range capable of striking Washington, DC.

North Korean state television, KCNA, said that missile is the “most powerful ICBM, which meets the goal of the completion of the rocket weaponry system development set by the DPRK”, according to South Korea’s news agency, Yonhap. DPRK refers to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Last month President Donald Trump said that Russia was hurting US efforts to disarm the North Korea of its nuclear weapons.

Trump has praised China – a close ally of Pyongyang – for its efforts to put pressure on North Korea.

In a tit-for-tat war of words with Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the US president called Kim a “madman” while the Korea leader dubbed him a “mentally deranged US dotard”.

The Russian foreign minister in September urged “hot heads” to calm down, calling the war of words “a kindergarten fight”.

Anaheim (California): Indian athlete Chanu Saikhom Mirabai showed grit in winning the women’s 48kg total and clean and jerk titles at the 2017 world weightlifting championships on Wednesday. Mirabai, the 2017 Commonwealth Games champion, lifted her personal best in career totaling 194kg to beat Sukcharoen Thunya of Thailand to the second place by a slim margin of 1kg. She was also the winner in clean and jerk of the event, reports Xinhua news agency.

Two-time junior world champion Sukcharoen finished first in snatch with 86kg but came up short in the clean and jerk. The Pan-American champion Ana Iris Segura Segura from Columbia was third in total.

Nearly 400 athletes from about 70 countries and regions, including six reigning Olympic champions, will be competing through December 5 at the competition. This will be the first world championships featuring eight weight categories for both men and women.

Olympic bronze medallist Karnam Malleshwari had won the top prize in worlds twice – in 1994 and 1995.

The British government introduced the one rupee note on November 30, 1917.

New Delhi: Its value has eroded over its lifetime of a century. Today, a rupee can buy very little, may be a toffee. Yet, this sturdy currency has survived two world wars, regularly shedding value till it has practically gone out of use.

The British government introduced the one rupee note on November 30, 1917.

Currency notes were introduced in India in 1861. Silver coins, including one rupee ones, were in existence for very long, some being traced to Sher Shah Suri’s reign in 1540. The one rupee paper currency, issued as a promissory note, was printed in England and depicted a silver coin image of King George V on the left corner. The words ‘I promise to pay the bearer the sum of One Rupee on demand at any office of issue’ was printed on it. Later, the promise was removed for this denomination.

“As people were increasingly melting silver one rupee coins during World War I, the number of coins were reducing from the market. At that time the British government planned to introduce this note,” Sushil Kumar Agrawal, CEO of mintageworld.com, an online museum of coins, stamps and currency notes, told IANS.

In its 100-year journey, design of One Rupee note was changed 44 times. The one Rupee note is the only currency printed by the Government of India and not by the Reserve Bank, and is signed by the Finance Secretary.

Though printing of One Rupee note was discontinued in 1994, it was re-introduced during 2015-16 financial year after a gap of 21 years. The re-introduction was more on nostalgic value than actual usage.

Asked about the reason, Agrawal said perhaps collectors’ demand for One Rupee note was the reason behind the re-printing.

“It does not as such have any value and the printing cost is certainly much higher than the value of the note” he said.

Talking about One Rupee note’s 100-year journey, founding Partner of Numismatic Auction House and founder of Oswal Antiques, Girish Jagshi Veera told IANS that the government might have reintroduced the currency because it is the basic currency of the country.

But we do not get to see the note too often. It is learnt that a bundle of 100 one rupee notes is sold for Rs 600 in grey markets of Zaveri Bazaar in Mumbai and Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Collectors do not mind shelling out premium for the notes.

In fact, different years of printing can fetch vastly different prices. A one rupee note of 1985 signed by Finance Secretary S. Venkitaramanan was sold for Rs 2,75,000 at Classical Numismatics Gallery on January 21, 2017. Another one, of 1944, issued by British India, signed C.E. Jones, was sold for Rs 130,000 for a pack of 100 at Todywalla Auctions in October 2009.

Salem: The long pending desire of Hadiya was fulfilled Wednesday when she spoke to her husband Shafin Jahan over a mobile phone.

A day after she arrived in the city to continue studies at the Sivaraj Homeopathy medical college here as directed by the Supreme Court, she spoke to her husband using the phone of the College Dean.

“Hadiya talked to Jahan (her husband) for a while from my mobile phone, after I, as local guardian, asked her whether she was interested in talking or meeting anybody, college dean G Kannan told reporters.

The 25-year-old was brought to the institution amid tight security by Kerala police from Coimbatore, about 170 km from here Tuesday evening.

Earlier when reporters asked about her husband Shafin Jahan, Hadiya said she had no contact with him for the last few months as she did not have a mobile phone and the only people she spoke to were her parents.

“I am very eager to speak to my husband,” said Hadiya, who was in the news recently after her conversion to Islam and marriage with the Muslim youth in Kerala.

The dean said: “She appeared to be relieved from depression after talking to him (husband). There is no restriction imposed on her to talk or to meet anybody.”

Hadiya also expressed regret for the tense situation prevailing in the college and inconvenience to students due to her, Kannan said.

Stating that she has not given any application to change her name, he said she has applied on her earlier name (Hindu name-Akhila Ashokan) for internship.

However, there was some confusion about where and with whom to send her during the college holidays, Kannan said adding the management will approach the apex court in this regard.

All rules and regulations and restrictions of the college will apply to her also and weekly once she will be allowed to go out for buying what she requires, along with the hostel wardens, he said.

Meanwhile, the college administrator Kalpana Shivaraj said the management will extend all support to Hadiya to complete her course. Hadiya’s request letter has been sent to to Dr MGR University for approval, she said.

Police said one Sub-inspector, four constables–two women and two men–will be part of her security.

“For the past six months, I was talking to persons I did not like (parents) because of their harassment during my stay with them,” Hadiya told reporters earlier at the college, where she will be undergoing a 11-month internship.

The apex court, after the proceedings, had freed Hadiya from her parents’ custody and asked her to pursue her studies.

She further said she will be able to communicate better with the media persons after receiving the copy of the Supreme Court order.

The court has appointed the Dean of the college as Hadiya’s guardian and granted him liberty to approach it in case of any problem. She was earlier staying at her parental home in Kochi for several weeks. The court, however, did not accede to her plea to be allowed to go with her husband.

Jahan had on September 20 approached the apex court seeking recall of its order directing the NIA to investigate the controversial case of conversion and marriage of Hadiya.

The Kerala High Court had annulled the marriage, terming it as an instance of ‘love jihad’, following which Jahan approached the Supreme court.

Finally it was Curtains Down on the 48th International Film Festival Of India (IffI Goa – 2017) in Goa’s huge Indoor Stadium namely Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherji Indoor Stadium. The Stadium was jampacked with the local Gaon delegates including the National & the International delegates and of course the media. And to top it the official Media PR Agency Raindrop had carted a chosen few media celebrities all the way from Bombay nay Mumbai to Goa for a 2 day trip to Goa to especially attend IffI Goa 2017’s Closing Ceremomy.

The highlights of the Closing Ceremony of IffI Goa – 2017 was the Bollywoodian stars walking down The Red Carpet a la Cannes Film Festival, Atom Egoyan receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, 120 BEATS PER MINUTE bagging the “Best Movie” award which comprised of the “Golden Peacock Trophy”, Big B being honoured – “The Legend Of Indian Cinema” bagging the “Indian Film Personality Of The Year 2017″ award et al.

Moreover Marathi Film Kshitij – A Horizon” bagged the “ICFT – UNESCO Gandhi Medal”
The 9 day long International Film Festival of India 2017 concluded on 28th Nov, 2017 in a higly colourful closing ceremony held at Goa. The theme of this year’s IFFI was “Connecting The World Through Stories”. And above all varied prestigious awards including Golden Peacock, Silver Peacock, Life Time Achievement Award & Indian Personality Of The Year Award were conferred during the star studded ceremony which was followed by a Dinner party in the especially decorated, with illuminating colourful lights, in the sprawling lawns of the Kala Academy.

French movie 120 Beats Per Minute, directed by Robin Campillo bagged the award for “Best Film” in IFFI 2017. The award came with the Golden Peacock trophy, certificate & a cash prize amount of Rs. 40, 00,000 shared between the Director & the Producer equally. Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, for his role in 120 Beats per Minute bagged the “Best Actor” award, who was conspicuous by his absence but he did sent a recorded message thanking profusely the officials of IffI award, the Chief Minister of Goa Shri Manohar Parrikar in tandem with the Goa Government.

Besides picking up the Silver Peacock 120 Beats Per Minute tells the story of a group of activists in Paris in early 1990’s, taking on the Government agencies & major pharmaceutical companies, battling for HIV /AIDS patients.

The “Best Director” award was given to Vivian Qu for the film Angels Wear White, who bagged the “Silver Peacock Trophy” and cash prize of Rs. 15,00,000. While Parvathy Thiruvothu Kottuvata was awarded the “Best Actress” award for the Malayalam film Take Off, Nahuel Pérez Biscayart won the “Best Actor” award for the film 120 Beats Per Minute. Both received the Silver Peacock Trophy & a cash Prize of Rs 10,00,000 each. Special Jury award, which carries the Silver Peacock Award & a cash prize of Rs. 15,00,000, was awarded to Mahesh Narayanan for his Malayalam movie Take Off. Kiro Russo received the award for “Best Debut Feature Film Of A Director” for his Spanish Movie Dark Skull.

Apart from this Big B, award winning & the most acclaimed actor was honoured with the “Indian Film Personality Of The Year 2017” which comprised of Rs 10 Lakh, a Shawl and a plaque, for his contribution to the Indian Cinema. The 75 year old actor’s glorious career has spanned almost 5 decades, in which he has been decorated with a plethora of National & International honours.

Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker, Atom Egoyan was conferred the “Lifetime Achievement” award at the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival Of India (IFFI Goa 2017). The festival also honoured his work with a special film section that had screened 3 films produced by the 57 year old filmmaker. Atom Egoyan is best known for his films Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter & Chloe. The lifetime achievement award consisting of a cash prize of Rs. 10,00,000 is conferred upon a master filmmaker for his / her outstanding contribution to cinema.

The ICFT – UNESCO Gandhi Medal was awarded to Marathi Movie Kshitij – A Horizon, directed by filmmaker Manouj Kadaamh. This award, instituted by the International Council for Film & Television, Paris & UNESCO is given to a film that portrays the Gandhian values of peace & harmony. The film is set on the life of Vacchi, 12 year old daughter of a sugarcane field labourer, who overcomes varied challenges to pursue her education.

And last but not the least “The Closing Ceremony” of IFFI 2017 was anchored by Karan Johar, Sonali Bendre & Zaira Wasim, of the recently released Secret Superstar, in lieu with ex – Bigg Boss contestant & the most popular RJ & actor Preetam who enlivened the proceedings of the evening.

In conclusion a point to be noted is that eminent Indian film personalities such as Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Bhumi Pednekar, Sushant Singh Rajput, Sidharth Malhotra, Huma Qureshi et al graced “The Closing Ceremony”, which also witnessed the scintillating performances from singer & composer Papon, enthralling the audience with his soulful voice & music and actor Sidharth Malhotra paid a glowing tribute to Big B with his dazzling dance performance from Big B’s films like Don, Hum, Yaarana et al.

Amreli: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday termed demonetisation a money laundering scheme, and raked up the issue of BJP President Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah’s company recording massive turnover after the NDA government came to power.

“Demonetisation was implemented suddenly, maybe he did not like the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. On November 8, the whole country was standing in line… But did you see any big industrialist from Gujarat in the queue outside banks? Did you see anyone coming in a Mercedes car?” Gandhi said at an election rally here.

“Those who ride Mercedes cars, entered the bank from the back door, and got their black money converted,” he said.

“This is the reality of demonetisation. The thieves got their black money laundered and you were left standing in queues,” he added.

He also raked up the issue of BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah’s company.

“Magically, Amit Shah’s son’s company converted Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore in three months… While anyone would usually run a profit making venture, the company was shut after three months,” he said.

He added that the Modi government was avoiding holding the Winter Session of Parliament before the Gujarat elections because they were scared of issues like Jay Shah’s company and the Rafale deal being raised.

Pune: The All India Muslim Business Startup Network (AIMBSN) hosted their 1st Annual Conference on November 26th, 2017 at Hotel Aurora Towers, Pune India. AIMBSN is an initiative aimed at driving Muslim involvement in India’s startup and technology economy. Dr. Tausif Malik organized the AIMBSN hosts their 1st Annual Conference conference, as he has a long history of involvement in business, technology, and community organizing.

The event’s theme and vision was“Connect, Support, Inspire & Grow”and involve Muslim community in stimulating the business sector and developing opportunities for the next generation.

Dr. Tausif Malik said “AIMBSN is India’s only ecosystem to connect with the Indian Muslim Entrepreneurs, Businesses, Investors & Startups”.

AIMBSN.com (All India Muslim Business Startup Network) ecosystem consists of the following:
Events: We would conduct grand day long Business conference, networking and Startup events across India and Monthly Breakfast Business Networking events
Social network: AIMBSN.com Social Network Site, where individuals& businesses, can post their businesses, requirements, investment opportunities, blogs and we will promote them to our database of global investors and business community.
Incubators & accelerators: We are in talks with minority institutions to establish Incubators & accelerators, where the startups, mentors, investors and community can interact with each other to promote business and startups. We will also encourage minority institution to apply for Government of India promoted Atal Tinkering Labs & Atal Incubation Centers
Venture capital: Our vision is by 2018 to launch AIMBSN Venture Capital fund, there are many NRI Indian Muslims who want to invest in their motherland India.

The event started Networking Breakfast, where attendees interacted with each other and exchanged business ideas and business cards.

The opening ceremony of the event started with recitation Holy Quran by Sunni Maulana Fakhruddin Saheb and Shia Maulana Mirza Saheb and followed by Indian National Anthem by Children.

Chicago based Dr.Tausif Malik founder, AIMBSN welcomed the everyone and highlighted that Islam promotes entrepreneurship and contribution to motherland.

He also said that the event is to align with the policies Government o India such as “Startup India and Startup India” Digital India, Skill India and Make in India.

Post lunch Startup Showcase session started by a lecture Adv. Bushra Shad, Partner LawCept Partners, Advocates & Solicitors, she briefed the attendees with Government of India’s initiatives and support for the Startups & entrepreneurs.

This was followed by Entrepreneurship Awards, the winners:
1.GREEN POWER PROJECTS – For Being Awarded as the Environmental Company
2.Miswak Toothbrush, USA – For Being Awarded as the Halal Product
& Innovation Company
3.SQR Infotech – For Being Awarded as the Technology Company
4.Service On Demand – For Being Awarded as the Comprehensive Service Provider
5.Fida – E – Millat School – For Being Awarded as the Community Education Provider
6.Adil Publication- For Being Awarded as the Community Media Company

Ahmedabad: If an unverified audio clip is to be believed, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani sounds tense and is heard admitting that the condition of the BJP is bad in the state.

The leaked audio clip which is making rounds in the social media is a conversation between Vijay Rupani and Naresh Sangitam from Surendra Nagar. Rupani is heard saying it has become very difficult to woo the Jain community in the area.

He further adds that Prime Minister called him to say that he made a Jain the CM even though they are only 5 percent of the population.

Even in a television interview earlier, Rupani did not deny the fact that he will have a difficult time in the polls. However, he seemed confident that BJP rule will retain in the state as people from Gujarat are aligned with the BJP’s ideology and not of the Congress.

The following is an English translation of the conversation:

Naresh: Yes, sir! Jai Jinendra.
Vijay Rupani: Namaskar. Jai Jinendra.
Vijay Rupani: Naresh bhai, we don’t have to fight within ourselves, we must regain our form. Because, there is only one Jain chief minister in the entire country.
Naresh: Absolutely.
Vijay Rupani: Narendra bhai had called me, he said, there are not even five percent Jains in Gujarat, still we made a Jain the CM. Are the Jains of Surendra Nagar ready to support us?
Naresh: Yes, why not?
Vijay Rupani: Our condition is bad here, mine is even worse.
Naresh: We will not let your condition deteriorate. We will support you.

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday said achieving a 10 per cent GDP growth rate is challenging and will depend on how the world is moving.

Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit here, he said India has done well by growing at 7-8 per cent during the last three years. To scale to 10 per cent rate is “very challenging” and it will not depend on domestic factors only but on how the world is moving, he said.

On reforms, he said India has structurally reformed and there is no finishing line in reforms. Jaitley said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) started with different tax rates and they have rationalised rates on many items.

Going forward, future rationalisation of rates would depend on revenue collections, he said, indicating the merger of 12 per cent and 18 per cent rates into one while keeping a “thin” line of luxury and demerit items in the top 28 per cent band.

Currently, the GST has four rates of 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent. The finance minister said a cogent GST mechanism has been developed and no country in the world has 5 per cent tax rate.